Labor Day...the official end of summer has arrived. Time to head back indoors and begin the "nesting" process that autumn brings. Your clients will soon be calling, eager for your talent and expertise. Here is some inspiration for you from the recent winners of...

September 02, 2008

One of the things I love about my busines of coaching and mentoring others to grow a decorating related business is that my former students share their regular newsletters with me. Here is one I received today from the talented Ava Lewandowski from Clemmons, North Carolina.

Not too long ago we had a mouse in our house. After he was caught (and he died a happy mouse...full of Ghirardelli's Chocolate Chips), I did a thorough cleaning of the pantry. Much to my surprise, there were several food items with an expired shelf -life. This told me that I need to be more frugal and check the dates more often as not to waste food. Placing items back on the shelves, I was reminded that decor has a shelf-life too and needs a thorough cleaning, redecorating or redesign occasionally.

Most people redecorate after 7 years and if not 7, then definitely after 10 years. To keep your decor from looking dated, periodically step back, freshen up and make some changes. There are little things that you can do without totally redecorating. One of those is redesigning your bookshelves.

In the August newsletter (Books, Books, And More Books) books came down off the shelves and were used as accessories in the home. So how do you decorate those bookshelves? I find decorating bookshelves to be one of my biggest challenges when doing an Interior Redesign.

There is nothing wrong with using rows of books as you would find in a library but adding a few accessories will add interest. Everything from collectibles, personal treasures, art, framed photos, decorative boxes, pottery and baskets; even books, can be displayed. All of these are great additions... the challenge is...placing them on the shelves so that the finished look isn't cluttered and is visually appealing.

August 18, 2008

Recently I returned from the SDP annual conference in Arizona with a lot of new ideas and inspiration to build my business. Mary Carol Garrity inspired all of us with her candor and her remarkable story of her rise to the top. Despite her abundance of personal success in the home furnishings and decor industry, I couldn't help but notice how much credit she gave to others who have helped her along her walk.

I went to conference a few days early to take advantage of the SDP's invitation to "relax, renew, and rejuvenate". My roommate Wendy and I started out early our first day into the desert for a 2.5 mile interpretive walk established and maintained by the Wild Horse Pass staff. As the blazing sun bore down upon us, I realized an even earlier start might have been better. We found our way together though, and enjoyed the Gila River and the natural flora of the Arizona desert.

Wendy left conference a day earlier than I, and on that last day there I decided to take that desert walk by myself. I started out early, recalling it would be about a 40 minute walk. I had my bottled water and cell phone, but no sunscreen or hat to shield my face from the already intense sunrays.

Somewhere along my way, I inadvertently strayed off the trail. Suddenly I noticed there were no signs to read; there was no Gila River along my side. I strained to see the rooftop of our resort, but the horizon revealed few clues. I tried to retrace my steps but suddenly everywhere I looked the scenery looked the same: dry, dusty and brown without a trace of shade. I tried to quell the panic I was starting to feel emerge. The eerie desert silence did not help.

True I had my cell phone, but no actual phone numbers to the resort. Earlier that morning I had been in touch with Kris Ozgar, someone I had only briefly met from conference, about sharing a ride to the airport. Quickly I hit "send" on my phone as she was the last person I had contact with before my walk. I was relieved to hear her voice, but felt foolish telling her I was lost in the desert, not knowing how to explain where someone might find me. I told her I would find my way, and hung up feeling a little less alone.

By this time it was really getting hot and my walking pace increased along with the temperature. I knew I had to find my way back to the river and that if I could find it, I would follow it back to the resort. Ten to fifteen minutes later I heard the water and saw a small sign bearing a stick picture of a hiker. I was headed back to civilization...but still it was a long walk back. I called Kris again and told her I had found my way. When I finally opened the door of the resort and embraced the cool blast of AC, I realized I had been gone almost an hour and a half!

As soon as I felt secure on that trail back to safety, I began to think about what had happened. I am sure a lizard or two heard me say aloud "Beth, what were you thinking taking a walk alone in this desert? " Wasn't it blatantly clear at conference that we need our friends and colleagues for support, to get ahead, to help us find our way?

Yes, this was the most valuable lesson I learned at conference, August 2008.

For Sale by Owner or to list with a Real Estate agent?
To Stage the home to show better or just sell "as is"?

These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself when you want to sell your home.
Now, as I work in two countries, I first need to explain the differences in selling your home in the USA or UK.

In the USA a Realtor will sell your home for around 6.5% commission....I can hear the sharp intakes of breath from across the Atlantic as I type this. In the UK Estate Agents will charge from 1.50% to .50% commission ( Depending on how good you are at negotiating AND how easily the agents think they can sell your home.) The better presented the easier to sell, another incentive to stage your home prior to selling!

In the USA Realtors, Brokers or Real Estate Agents work with something called a MLS or Multiple Listing Service which means your home is listed for all realtors in the area to review. Many areas also hold a "caravan" of Realtors who visit all the new listings in the area or neighborhood they specialize in. How cool is that, all these professionals knowing your home is for sale. I don't know about you but that would be a HUGE incentive for me to get my home looking the best it possible can. How does that help, I hear my UK readers ask...well that large commission is split between the Agents who sell and the office they work from and also the agent who introduces the buyer and their office. So all those Uk Estate Agents who are packing a suitcase...STOP. The Realtors over here will probably end up with the same commission rate as you after all the splits. The grass is not always greener.

Lets get back on track, during the caravan tour your home will be looked at by many of the real estate professionals that your potential buyers will be using to find their new home. Don't you want to make a great impression on them and have them remembering your home over all the others that they saw on that tour of the neighborhood?

One of the other differences between the two countries is that Realtors over here usually show the home without the owners present. In the UK the Agents generally make the appointment for you and you show the home yourself. Now that I've seen both systems at work, I prefer the USA system.

The potential buyers seem to be more relaxed and give much more honest feedback to the showing agent. Lets face it, if you are being shown a house by the owner you are not really going to tell them it's an ugly or dirty home that you wouldn't touch with a barge pole are you! It is a shame that we are not so honest as maybe then sellers would realize that they need to step up to the plate and go through all the staging processes that would help their home show better.

Which kitchen would you rather see when looking for a new home?
This one is not inspiring me to cook up a storm.
It needs some repair to baseboards or skirting boards as they are called in the UK.
The cabinet doors are tired and not in keeping with the expected price of the home. A de-clutter is also needed.

This renewed kitchen would now get me wanting to cook.
Repairs are completed, new color added.
Some new cabinet doors and some additional wall cabinets update the look. The dryer has been moved and note the change looking through the dining room towards the front entry.
A new sink, de-cluttering and creating a small dining area complete the look.

The owners asked us to stage their home before placing it on the market and it sold quickly and for more money.

One of the items on my to do list when I am getting ready to sell a home is research.
I want to know who my competition is, what houses are also for sale in my neighborhood, how are they priced and how well are they presented.
In the USA your Realtor will pull the "comps" which will tell you what sold when and for how much.
This is useful for working out the listing price for your home, in the UK your Estate Agent will have good knowledge of what is selling in your neighborhood.

There are many web sites to help you estimate the value of your home. For the USA there is, amongst many zillowwhich seems to be one of the easiest to use and in the UK I use Up My Streetand if I really want to be depressed I look at Property Snake which is the source for house price reductions across the UK. Remember not to rely solely on the web for pricing your home, use your realtors experience and comps.

Some of the sites require you to register and some are easier to navigate than others. Have fun researching your area and neighborhood. While you are looking at these sites for price comps spend some time looking at the pictures and seeing how well the homes show. Why not spend time viewing open homes in the area.
Remember, many prospective buyers now use the internet to evaluate available properties. Current research shows that they use the net to ELIMINATE houses from their viewing list to save wasting time. How will your home look on the web?

So, although it is possible to sell your own home and there are various companies that will help you, I believe that a Real Estate professional is the best solution in helping you sell or buy your home.

Tropical Storm/Hurricane Fay is heading towards this part of Florida and I need to pack up this computer and move to spend the next few hours or even days with my daughter.

Have you ever learnt anything interesting from attending an Open House?
Have you ever been shocked by how cluttered and cramped a neighboring house was when you visited, yet it looked great from the outside?
I would love to hear your selling stories. Post any comments or questions you have on Real Estate Staging or anything else for that matter and I will gladly do my best to help you.

August 14, 2008

Okay, okay....back to work! It is hard to believe that The SDP conference was already a week ago. It was hard for me to get back in the groove. I have not had many days off for years. Although I did understand the sacrifices that I needed to make in order to get this business, Design By DesAnn, off the ground.
Whenever I need to make an investment in my business I try to think of it in terms of, "How many hours do I need to "work/play" to pay for this...how many clients?".
For 2 hours a month of client work I can invest $150.00 towards my marketing. Let me break it down for you. I will GLADLY work for 2 hours a month. Even though I am not being paid personally, my business is being paid. Actually my business is making an investment that WILL make a profit.
If I purchase 2 large window decals from Vista Print with my logo it is only $30.00. Hundreds of perspective clients see these signs every day. Vista Print also now has two sided YARD SIGNS, with my logo for only $60.00 for 4 of them.
A web site can be as little as $45.00 per month through Simplified Websites. Well worth the money. I receive about 20 calls or emails per month due to my web-site. Of those 20, at least 15 will book a date with me for one of my services. Through Constant Contact I can also have a monthly professional Newsletter that will reach up to 500 for $15.00 per month.
Okay, that is $150.00 and I will not be buying yard signs or decals every month.
It amazes me that for the investment of only 2 hours, I can utilize all of these great resources.
I try not to think of the money I need to market my business as money, but as how many hours or clients do I need to pay for it.
I highly encourage you to make the investment in yourself. YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS ARE WORTH IT!

August 11, 2008

I just returned from Arizona where I attended The SDP annual conference. Can you imagine a conference about decorating, and growing your decorating business. Check us out on utube. You are going to see a lot of smiles as it was a huge success. We were overloaded with great speakers two of which were Mary Carol Garrity from Nell Hills, and Terri Bowersock from Consign and Design.

The sdp conference was amazing!For those of you who missed it…….”Vision Board” your way to next years! I for one am inspired by all who attended. All these talented folks in one place is truly invigorating.

I’m finding it difficult to put into words how my journey there has touched my life.

So often we let our fears and having to be uncomfortable keep us from experiencing life’s magic!

Let me tell you….I REALLY DON”T LIKE TO FLY AT ALL and I also DO NOT respond well to HOT WEATHER! So often we find as Entrepreneurs that we need to push ourselves past our comfort zones.

The

Wild

Horse

Pass

resort was the perfect setting. Thank you to the sdp Development Council and our founders

for the choice of venue.As I was looking at my photos I saw so many connections to where we were physically to how many of us feel.

So often I feel that I have been in the desert. Then right there in the harshness we find extraordinary beauty and strength.

There were so many nuggets of wisdom to learn from my fellow friends & colleagues that I had wished for more time. So many GREAT presenters, so little time. Mary Carol Garrity and Terri Bowersock were so generous to us. Truly amazing women. These two women were in their own deserts, yet they found a way to find strength & beauty.

My business and myself always grow after attending The sdp conference. I try to put into action the things I have learned as soon as I can.

I was so happy to be a part of the Accessory challenge. To work with other amazingly talented folks to bring together a room in 30 minutes is great fun. I felt like a kid again.

For those of you who couldn’t be there, you were truly missed and it is my deepest wish that you will be able to join us next year!

I’m now going to spend the rest of the day with my “boys”, my hubby & son!

July 30, 2008

I don’t know about you but I’m feeling as though this is the longest summer ever!
It’s taken me a few years of living in Florida to even begin to get used to the heat and humidity let alone the timing of the school holidays in the USA.
In England some of the schools are only just finishing for the summer, they don’t return until September for fall semester.

What doesn’t change is the sigh of relief that reverberates across the land as the front door closes on the children returning to school. I love my children dearly but, when they were younger, I must confess to collapsing on the sofa with a coffee on their first day back, surveying my living room and wondering how long it would take to stop it looking like a tornado had blown through it.

We’re going back to school, so here’s a history lesson for
the heart of a decorator! Grade school history would have been much more
interesting if they’d only included more stories like this one. This true
story is a cautionary reminder for those of us who have a passion for making
all things bright and beautiful. The adoring wife of our 16th
President was determined to make their brief stay in our nation’s capital as
personal and comfortable as possible for her family. That of course is
what most women want, right? The power of the nesting instinct!
Congress appropriated a generous allowance of $20,000 to Mrs. Lincoln, so that
she could get the executive mansion just the way she wanted it.

With our great Society of Decorating Professional’s conference of “learning” upon us, I thought that I would share my thoughts on Marketing. To me the 3 R’s are the Marketing foundation of my business. If you are just starting out and feel overwhelmed perhaps these 3 R’s can help you to build your Marketing. For those of you who are “seasoned” share with us your foundation principles. I am ALWAYS looking for new ways to improve my business and eager to learn new strategies. In the Interior Redesign, Decorating and Home Staging business world I believe that we are “plowing the field”. I believe that The Society of Decorating Professionals are setting the pace, laying the foundation.